St Andrews travel guide
St Andrews is a breezy seaside town where learning, religious importance and historical significance are concentrated. Best known as the home of golf with its seven public courses at St Andrews Links, including the Old Course, it features the British Golf Museum where a collection of memorabilia is on display. Serious golfers might want to consider staying at the Old Course Hotel, so that the green is never out sight.
The damage to the cathedral following John Knox’s impassioned sermons started neglect that reduced it to ruins. St Andrews Castle fared little better, though it has a wonderful dungeon.
At the Aquarium all kinds of marine life can be seen in settings that resemble their natural surroundings. If you'd rather eat seafood than watch it swimming around, head to The Seafood Restaurant. The University, whose buildings line North Street, is the oldest in Scotland. In April, students here stage the Kate Kennedy pageant, in which they play the parts of distinguished figures associated with the university or the town. Lady Kate, a niece of the university's founder, was a great beauty to whom the students are said to have sworn everlasting allegiance. Women are banned and Kate is played by a first-year male student.
Off the road back to Perth is Hill of Tarvit, a superb mansion house remodelled by Sir Robert Lorimer with a magnificent garden and grounds.
Places to see in St Andrews
The Old Course
Links Clubhouse (serves the Old, New and Jubilee courses), Bruce Embankment
tel: 01334 466666
If you don't have a good enough handicap to play on the famous course, you can always join a guided walk in July and August, which last around 50 minutes.
St Andrews Castle
St Andrews, Kingdom of Fife
tel: 01334 477 196
Although the castle sits in ruins, its underground passages (the siege mine and counter-mine) can be explored, as can the dungeon and the new entrance front that was added in the 16th century after the castle was badly damaged during battles over religion.
St Andrews Aquarium
The Scores, St Andrews
tel: 01334 474786
Catch Black Tip Reef sharks, Harbour seals and over 100 fish species (plus a group of meerkats) at this Aquarium, where visitors also have the chance to feed the seals and meerkats.
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